Through my presence, I hope to give visibility and contribute in the defense of the rights of people with different abilities. It’s time we raise our voices.

There is still a lack of equity when it comes to the social and professional inclusion of people with disabilities compared to those without. For this reason, an INCLUSIVE EDUCATION system from the very foundation is essential—one that enables people with disabilities to develop in all areas of society under equal, normalized, and fully inclusive conditions.

One key factor in making inclusion a reality is ensuring that the education system, from early schooling to university, embraces universal accessibility and design-for-all principles. This allows individuals in this group to develop their full range of skills and abilities, enabling them to aspire to meaningful jobs on equal terms with the rest of society. For this to happen, both human resources (qualified teachers, support professionals, consultants and sign language interpreters, therapists, speech therapists, educators, and counseling and educational support services, among others) and material resources (physical accessibility, alternative communication systems, sound and/or visual amplification systems, adapted learning materials, and the tools made possible by ICT) are necessary.

Moreover, a mindset shift is essential to avoid creating «bubble groups» in educational centers (I’m thinking of recess time, field trips, and other out-of-classroom activities). These only lead to social isolation, whereas what we need is true inclusion.

ACCESSIBILITY is a prerequisite for people with disabilities to be able to live independently. Spanish Law 51/2003 on equal opportunities, non-discrimination, and universal accessibility establishes the obligation of states to adopt appropriate measures to ensure that people with disabilities have access, on an equal basis with others.

Let me assure you, this is still far from being fulfilled. I live right across from the Puente de Alcocer commuter train station—and it’s not accessible. That’s just one example, but there are countless similar situations. This violates the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and breaches the obligations of our national legislation, which established December 4, 2017, as the deadline for all goods, services, and environments of public interest to become fully accessible.

Lastly, I want to emphasize the fundamental role of the PERSONAL ASSISTANT in achieving independent living. Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognizes the right to live independently and to have the freedom to choose where, how, and with whom one wants to live, without being forced to follow a specific lifestyle. To make this a reality, the Convention endorses access to a wide range of services, including PERSONAL ASSISTANCE as a key tool for enabling the existence and community inclusion of people with disabilities, thus preventing their isolation or exclusion.

This calls for a cultural shift—from focusing on limitations and pathology to focusing on the individual, their life project, and the path toward more inclusive societies.

It is vital to understand that a PERSONAL ASSISTANT is not a caregiver or domestic worker. They are individuals who carry out—or help carry out—daily life tasks for someone who, due to a functional diversity or other reasons, cannot perform them independently.

This role is regulated by a professional contract, and it is the person with functional diversity who selects the assistant. This service would not be more expensive than a place in a care home and would, in fact, create numerous job opportunities. It is essential that the autonomous communities truly commit to this figure, as doing so means committing to the full lives of people with functional diversity.

With the necessary support, we are not that different and can lead more normalized lives. We need to say this loudly and often—so that we are heard. People with disabilities do not want others making decisions for us. We want to live independently. We want to say loud and clear: “I decide.”

To conclude, I hope this speech is one more step toward continuing the work and ensuring our rights are not just words—but become reality.